THEGAYUK

Category: Entertainment

  • FILM REVIEW | Avengers Endgame

    FILM REVIEW | Avengers Endgame

    ★★★★★ | AVENGERS ENDGAME

    Marvel Studios’ AVENGERS: ENDGAME..L to R: Hawkeye/Clint Barton (Jeremy Renner), War Machine/James Rhodey (Don Cheadle), Iron Man/Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.), Captain America/Steve Rogers (Chris Evans), Nebula (Karen Gillan), Rocket (voiced by Bradley Cooper), Ant-Man/Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) and Black Widow/Natasha Romanoff (Scarlett Johansson)..Photo: Film Frame..©Marvel Studios 2019

    Probably the most anticipated film of all time is now the most successful film in cinema history. The immediate sequel to Avengers Infinity War and the climax to the hugely successful decade of Marvel Comics 22 film marathon. After the shocking climax of the last movie with the Avengers losing big time, what next? Who lives and dies this time? And how do they send off the most beloved characters in film history?

    Answer with the best superhero film ever made that’s how!

    Nutshell – The ultimate superhero villain Thanos succeeded in gathering together all six infinity stones which have been spread across all of the decades’ superhero films and with a click of his fingers kills half of the universe including favourites such as Black Panther, Spiderman and almost all of The Guardians Of The Galaxy. How does the world, the universe and the remaining Avenger superheroes cope with the loss and go forward? All seems lost as this is set 5 years depressingly in the future but then…

    This film will make you laugh out loud, cheer, cry and give you loads to talk about through repeated viewings. Simply spine-tingling and incredible at a number of key moments. Believe the hype for once.

    Running Time – 181 Minutes – Cert 12A. A very very long movie but there are 10 years of loose ends and story arcs to tie up and they succeed with each one with pure class.

    The Gay UK Factor – Gay cosplay heaven. Chris’s Hemsworth, Pratt & Evans lead the wank bank possibilities here plus Black Panther, Hawkeye and a superb buff looking Bucky Barnes The Winter Soldier will all make your hole twitch. Chris Evans, unfortunately, shaves his beard off from Infinity ward which is a big shame but at least he does it shirtless. Another jerk-off negative is Chris Hemsworth’s Thor for reasons that become apparent when you see the film but there is a tonne of male flesh squeezing into tight latex for three very happy hours plus more than one reference to Captain America’s ass being the ‘ass of America’ to enjoy too… and it sure is.

    Cast – For the first time ever there are 25 names above the movie title. This is very very star heavy. Robert Downey Jnr has the top slot but with 16 other movie headliners of their own and an army of cameos including Robert Redford, Michael Douglas, William Hurt & Michelle Pfeiffer plus all the usual Marvel suspects you won’t be shortchanged in star power for your hard earned.

    Key Player – This is the new dictionary definition of the word ensemble so no point singling out anyone except Thor and Rocket racoon get all the best funny lines and Hawkeye the best action beats. The real key players are the directors here Joe and Anthony Russo who pull off whichever way you look at it – the fourth Avenger sequel or the 22nd Marvel Universe sequel and make it the best yet. Giving every member of the massive cast something worthwhile to do and tying up so many stories so satisfactorily. The other key player is the God at Marvel/Disney Kevin Feige who oversees all and is the one who decided to make so many different movies linked with each other over so many years and three chapters of the Marvel Universe which comes to a close here so onto Chapter Four in a couple of months with the next Tom Holland Spidey film.

    Budget – $400,000,000 plus – Yes, the most expensive film in history but after four days it had made $1.2 Billion dollars so this was no gamble. Bonus’s all round as it climbs the All-Time Box Office Charts with gusto leaping over Frozen, Fast & Furious and Toy Story by the hour. Marvel now move on to stage four of their universe so expect even bigger budgets and profits to come.

    Best Bit – 2 hr 12 mins; A big turning point in the movie which we will not spoil for you but you won’t miss it just ensure you are not holding any popcorn at the time.

    Worst Bit – 1 hr 49 mins; When you are now bursting for the toilet but there is so much going on you cannot decide when to make a run for it. By the way unusual for a Marvel film but there are no scenes in the credits at all so no need to sit through 10 minutes of CGI and stunt men’s names this time… go to the bar and start the lengthy discussion about what you have just seen instead.

    Little Secret – The film held previews on a Thursday night and two websites crashed and all seats in America were sold in SIX hours flat. Three Cinema chains decided for the first time ever to open right through the night and continue 24/7 to deal with demand.

    It made $60 Million at its previews breaking all records and next day it broke more than the biggest weekend box office ever and so it goes clearing $1 Billion dollars on the 4th day (which only 3 films have done in history). Demand was so high that two tickets in New Jersey were sold for $15,000 for an IMAX showing of the 15 buck movie. This review took a day to write and in that time Endgame made more than any non-Marvel release of 2018 did in its entire run.

    Further Viewing – Really? Well, you need to buff up on all 22 films in the Marvel Universe starting with Iron Man in 2008. Then move on to the DC Universe back through Nolan’s Dark Knights and onto Tim Burton’s Batman’s & Christopher Reeves first two Superman films. Add The Crow and Blade and then ignore all other superhero films like the plague especially anything with the words Fantastic and Four in them.

    Any Good – This is a masterpiece with one jaw-dropping air punching moment after another. Probably the biggest superstar cast ever assembled each with their own moment in the most expensive movie in history and a last hour that will not be beaten this year or possibly for many years.

    Bye, bye Avatar, so long Titanic, Au Revoir Star Wars, Pirates, Bond and Potter the world has a new all-time box office champ and we have no hesitation in giving it five huge stars to boot.

    You hoped it would be great but it is 10 times better than you ever expected. There was the movie world before Endgame and a completely different and better one after. Everything is wrapped up perfectly making an instant classic. Just incredible!

  • Go Wig Tour featuring RPDR queens has been cancelled

    Go Wig Tour featuring RPDR queens has been cancelled

    The Go Wig Tour has been cancelled just a day after promoters requested that RuPaul’s name be removed from any advertising.

    go wig tour cancelled

    According to the ticket seller, Ticketmaster, the UK stretch of the Go Wig Tour has been cancelled and asked vendors and outlets who were promoting the UK segment of the tour to remove any promotions of the tour.

    Yesterday, in an email seen by THEGAYUK, vendors and outlets were asked to remove any mention of RuPaul and only to use artwork directly associated with the Go Wig Tour. In the update it was announced that Yvie Oddly would also not be appearing.

    One of the venues which was due to host the tour the O2 Ritz in Manchester released a statement and said that anyone who had bought tickets for the event would be able to get a refund.

     

    The tour was due to visit London, Birmingham, Bristol, Glasgow, Manchester, Newcastle and Belfast.

    THEGAYUK reached out to Go Wig Tour for comment.

    This is a breaking story

  • THEATRE REVIEW | Little Death Club, Underbelly Southbank, London

    THEATRE REVIEW | Little Death Club, Underbelly Southbank, London

    ★★★★★ | Little Death Club, London

    The best type of shows at the theatre have always been the ones that give you a bit of everything; comedy, singing, live music, and perhaps throwing in some death-defying performances, drag, and gratuitous nudity is always welcome. Little Death Club gives us this and more!

    Playing until Sunday June 23rd, 2019, Little Death Club has literally something for everyone (the straights, the gays and all the in betweens).

    Compered by the sexy and slutty Bernie Dieter, she guides us through the all too short (one hour) show and introduces the acts, but she is an act unto herself. She sarcastically delivers with a Berlin/Rocky Horror sluttiness style, all with a bang, and involving some lucky male audiences members whom she involves in a bit of mischievous. But then immediately the acts come out fast and furious. The lithe and built body of the ever so graceful Beau Sargent who wows the crowd, scantily clad of course, as he does acrobatics and does bends and turns where the audience can see every line on his body; to the amazing Fancy Chance who hangs and spins by her hair – literally – and then decides she doesn’t need to wear any clothes – and does the spinning again – in the nude.

    Myra Dubios provides laughter and glamour to the proceedings, while disgruntled Josh Glanc tells why he is not a happy mine. But the show ends with a bang by the amazing Kitty Bang Bang, who eats fire and spits it out – so don’t get too close to her. This and more is showcased to a very happy audience at the Underbelly in the Southbank. You get a lot of bang for your buck, and you’ll want to go back and see it again (I will). The Spiegeltent, which has been home to many many cabaret and burlesque shows, might have found it’s best one yet. It’s excellent, breath-taking, hilarious, sexy, and with a bar attached to quench your thirst. What more could you ask for in a night at the theatre? It sure beats watching Dame Maggie Smith delivering a 100 minute monologue that’s for sure.

    Little Death Club plays at the Underbelly Festival Southbank until 23rd June 2019, click here for more details

  • TV REVIEW | Rupaul’s Drag Race season 11 episode 8 and 9: Irresistible

    This is a two in one review that I hope you will enjoy.

    Last week Drag Race presented us with Rupaul teaching the queens all about promotion, using her own book Guru as a tool for a fun mini challenge.

    The episode also included a visit from the lovely Jinx Monsoon who coached the girls into the always much anticipated snatch game.

    That segment proved a clear problem some queens always have: when told their strengths and weaknesses – or what may or may not work they never listen. Or they only take it on board when it’s too late. If Ru or a seasoned queen makes it clear they think you’d be better suited to do a character they know you excel at: do it!!

    So Snatch Game itself was … uneven, the ones that were good were good, the ones that were not absolutely bombed!

    Silky won overall. Now her Snatch Game was good but what does Nina West have to do to be noticed? She presented two wonderfully funny characters and completely changed up her look and still she just gets a “well done, byeee!!”

    It must be discouraging to be working so hard and never be seen.

    The runway was a fabulous sequin spectacle with Brooke Lynn Heights pulling a beautiful mega reveal. Sadly as she failed on Snatch Game it didn’t do her much good.

    Then the much talked about lip-sync: Yvie vs Brooke Lynn.

    I know a lot of fans say this was the best lip-sync ever but it wasn’t for me. Yes, it was good but I prefer ones that don’t use acrobatics but instead have real dancing or the ones where the queens are so into the song it seems as if they sing it themselves.

    Still it was good, so good in fact no-one sashayed away.

    This week saw the library open for one of the strangest of Reading challenges. This it seemed as if non of the girls really knew how to really read and were better at clapping back. Silky and her footnote was the strangest one of all. Brooke Lynn was absolutely the best and deserved her win. Future queens better go and watch Paris is Burning to get schooled in reading like a pro!!

    One of the rewards of winning her reading challenge was that Brooke Lynn got to select who teamed up with who for this weeks main challenge. An improv police series called: L.A.D.P.: Los Angeles Drag Patrol. There was some shade involved in her choices, but also a little wisdom. Pairing a more subdued queen with a vocal one can work – and it did for most of them.

    The challenge itself was fun for the most with Silky and Brooke Lynn shining (it was not surprising Nina felt some kind of way giving Brooke Lynn the part she had wanted to do herself. She ended up being barely featured in the scene at all!!) But the absolute star was A’Keria Davenport who finally felt ready to let go. She was funny and an absolute twerk star!

    The real winner, to me, though was RuPaul. The delivery of her connecting secretary scenes were hilarious – especially when she was “speaking cat”.

    So, talking about cats: sad to say Plastique Tiara and Miss Vanjie were … not there – they looked great and their thing could have been funny, if they had prepared a little more. Also two cats fighting over milk. Did no-one even think about fighting over Milk? As in the former contestant? It could have made the joke a lot better.

    Then the runway, this week category is the Facekini. Though the show says it’s based on Ru’s iconic wearing of the facial garment, the original for this look is course Leigh Bowery, which is mentioned by Nina West who wears an outfit inspired by him. Sadly, though her look is one of the best, she doesn’t get singled out and just ends up “safe”.

    Absolute winner is A’Keria who also slays the runway, a well deserved win.

    Over to one of the most cozy and cheerful Untuckeds ever. The girls were at their calmest: talking like friends and just being happy an friendly with each other. It’s good to have episodes like this once in a while.

    The bottom two was right: both Vanjie and Plastique were just not on point in both the challenge and the runway. Vanjie was clearly ready to slay a lip-sync, having prepared herself every week and easily beat Plastique.

    From all kinds of whispers it is clear we do not have to mourn the loss of our Asian Queen for long, her popularity might spur her on to All stars 5. If you can’t wait that long, take a look at what she did next here:

  • THEATRE REVIEW | Tumulus, Soho Theatre, London

    THEATRE REVIEW | Tumulus, Soho Theatre, London

    ★★★★ | Tumulus, London

    (C) Darren Bell

    There’s a mound in Hampstead Heath where dead bodies of gay men are being found. It’s a tumulus (a mound), and the story behind the tumulus is disturbingly and jarringly portrayed and performed in a show of the same name at The Soho Theatre.

    It’s a life of drugs, sex, parties, and unfortunately murder in this production where gay men PnP (Party and Play – code words for drugs with sex). But in particular one gay man, Anthony, who works at the British Museum as a curator (a fantastic Ciaran Owens), through phone apps (we know which ones), finds himself in this world of chemicals and sex.

    In this world he encounters men around his age (Ian Hallard) and much younger men (Harry Lister Smith), who are also like him – living a life where there are no bounds and no boundaries. But gay men are winding up dead in Hampstead Heath, and Anthony might have just stumbled on the idea that there is a serial killer of gay men out there. All this happens in an explosive one hour of theatre that will awaken your senses and your mind.

    Tumulus is a show that is taut, tight, but never loses it’s edge, thanks to sharp writing by Christopher Adams and direction by Matt Steinberg. It’s got a great cast, especially Owens as the lead character.

    He takes us on this journey with him, in our face and right up our arses.

    Tumulus plays at the Soho Theatre until 4th May 2019

  • Theatre Review | Rough Crossing – National Tour

    ★★☆☆☆ | Rough Crossing

    As a theatre company board a cruise ship to cross the Atlantic to New York for the premier of their new piece, it’s not just the waters that become choppy. Following the overhearing of an ill-timed romantic interlude between his two leads, Hungarian playwright Turai tries to keep his upcoming production on track, by re-writing parts of his script to cover up for their indiscretion. But with only four and a half days to rewrite and rehearse the play, it is all hands on deck to keep things afloat.

    Turai is played with an air of camp sophistication by John Partridge (EastEnders) and bounces nicely off Matthew Cottle (Spooks) as his downtrodden writing partner; whilst rising star Charlie Stemp outshines them both with a confident portrayal of the cabin boy, Dvornichek.

    Despite an impressive and lavish art deco set, sadly, the play holds little else in terms of appeal. The script is neither witty nor amusing, eliciting only the briefest isolated pockets of laughter (primarily from the same audience member); whilst the direction is lacklustre at best and inexplicably tacks on a wholly misplaced musical number at the end of each act. The whole thing doesn’t really know quite where to put itself – it is not quite sophisticated comedy, not quite farce, not quite “Carry On” and not quite musical comedy. Sadly, unlike the fictional ship, the whole story seems to go absolutely nowhere.

    Tom Stoppard’s play is a wordy affair with a rapidly delivered script which is awash with very gentile and outdated comedy and a smattering of physical slapstick thrown in; and fans of Stoppard’s work will no doubt relish the opportunity of seeing one of his lesser revived pieces performed in a professional, touring production.

    Despite a few issues with diction at times, the production is competently presented, but ultimately the show itself never really sets sail and ends up casting the audience member’s interest adrift.

    Rough Crossing is currently at the Sheffield Lyceum until 27th April 2019 before continuing on its national tour.

  • TV show Blind Date to introduce Bisexual daters

    TV show Blind Date to introduce Bisexual daters

    For the first time, Blind Date is introducing an all bisexual dating panel.

    The brand new series of Blind Date will feature a first for the classic TV dating show – a mixed line-up of male and females, as they introduce bisexual daters to the format.

    In an upcoming episode of the show presenter Paul O’Grady will introduce beauty consultant Jordan as he chooses between support worker Lily, model Jesse or French master’s student Zoe.

    This new format element follows the introduction of all-male and all-female line-ups when the series returned in 2017.

    Blind Date presenter Paul O’Grady said, “I’m delighted that Blind Date is continuing to be inclusive by giving a platform to those who identify as bisexual. It was a joy to film and I’m sure Cilla would have been proud”

    In January 2018, Blind Date made history when it hosted an all male, all gay episode of the show.

    Blind Date airs Sunday’s at 8pm on Channel 5, Catch the episode when it airs in May on Channel 5.

  • FILM REVIEW | Yuli

    FILM REVIEW | Yuli

    ★★★★ | Yuli

    Famous Cuban ballet dancer Carlos Acosta plays himself in a beautiful drama/documentary about his life as a ballet star as well as his life growing up poor in Cuba.

    ‘Yuli’ – the nickname given to him by his father Pedro – is very unique in its storytelling. It not only goes into detail about his struggle to become a ballet dancer, but the film also deals with his relationship with his family, his home country of Cuba, as well as the troubled relationship he had with his father. Scenes of the adult Acosta are interspersed with scenes of his childhood, with Edilson Manuel Olbera more than ably playing Acosta as a young boy in a poor area of Havana with his family and separated parents who still live together.

    Cuba is also a star of the film. There are beautiful shots of the Malecon (a broad road esplanade hugging the coastline in Havana), old yet beautiful architecture in Havana, long shots of the city streets, and a stunning finale shot of the famous Great Theatre of Havana, where a young Acosta learned ballet.

    Members of Acosta’s family ended up fleeing Cuba for the United States. Yet Yuli’s parents continued to urge him to dance, and they, along with ballet teachers, saw something special in him. He gets chances to go to the best ballet schools, ending up in both the U.S. and then in London, where he became a permanent member of The Royal Ballet for 17 years. Keyvin Martinez plays Acosta as a young man, a man who misses home and almost decides to give it up all just so he can return to his beloved Cuba (and mom).

    There are lots and lots of beautiful dance scenes that impact the viewer on what a beautiful, stunning and amazing are that ballet is. The dance scenes are transitional – these dance scenes guide us from one scene to the next, and this works beautifully. And Acosta, as an actor, is very good at playing himself.

    Yuli is such a beautiful film – it’s an event film that is beautifully directed by Icíar Bollaín, but this is Acosta’s film.  What Yuli doesn’t do is to convey how famous Acosta was during his heyday. Sure he is world-renowned for his dance work, but the film doesn’t really convey this, nor does it show much of Acosta interacting socially with fellow dancers, most of whom are gay (Acosta is straight). But these are just minor blips. ‘Yuli’ is a film that can be enjoyed whether you love ballet or not. 

    Yuli now playing at a cinema near you.

  • TV REVIEW | Drag Race Season 11 Episode 7 Back, Back, Back again!!

    TV REVIEW | Drag Race Season 11 Episode 7 Back, Back, Back again!!

    Yes!! There she was at last: the much quoted much mentioned Alyssa Edwards returned to Drag Race this week and breathed some much-needed life in this year’s slightly confusing season.

    The episode started with the queens feeling a bit low and irritated with each other. RuPaul seemed intent on changing this rut this week, staging a potato-sack race (with boobs) that put a bit of a smile on the queen’s faces (especially the winners as the best queens got rather a lot of money!!)

    The challenge itself, though, brought everyone back to earth: Farm to Runway. The queens got the almost impossible challenge of turning farm food and fabric into actual fashion worthy challenges.

    A lot of the queens seem happy with the challenge, ready to show their creative selves.

    This week the episode was very much Plastique Tiara’s chance to shine, and she did!! Her emotional talk with RuPaul about her upbringing and sad relationship with her family was heartbreaking, resulting in the first documented workroom hug from Ru. Then we were later introduced to her lighter more carefree side with the arrival of her drag-mother: Alyssa. The change in attitude from Plastique was amazing, and resulted in getting her first big win!! Well done.

    It seemed Alyssa had a positive influence on everyone with her catwalk training, fun motivational speeches and choreography. It was the first time all queens seemed at ease and smiling.
    The show is stressful and emotional, and having a person step in with a positive attitude who knows what you’ve been through helps a lot. Alyssa is a great teacher and it was clear she cares for her new drag sisters (and daughters) a lot.

    Sadly nothing could help poor Ra’Jah. The queen clearly felt undervalued in the show, longing for praise and help, but also pushing away everyone who reached out. Over the weeks it was sad to see a clearly talented artist fall victim to their (in Ru’s words) “Inner saboteur”.

    What was also sad was hearing her tell Akeria about knowing she was having a breakdown but no-one was helping her, no one had ever told her she was loved. The jealousy she displayed towards Plastique came from a place of hurt. It was good to see a young queen like Plastique sensing this and comforting the angry Ra’Jah instead of fighting.

    She explained this later:

    https://twitter.com/plastiquetiara/status/1116715770128498693

    https://twitter.com/plastiquetiara/status/1116715771382697984

    Hopefully Ra’Jah will find her inner peace so her true talent can shine one day. A lot of queens got the chance to redeem themselves during an All Star season, I hope she can have that too.

    Judging from her after show interviews she has already started working on her problems.
    But we’ll see at the reunion.

    With Ra’Jah gone focus is now shifting to the differences between Yvie Oddly, Silky and Miss Vanjie. This could be getting interesting!! Stay tuned!!

  • Chris Lilley has a new show coming soon and we’re so ready for it

    Chris Lilley has a new show coming soon and we’re so ready for it

    Comedian and writer Chris Lilley has a brand new show out on Netflix and we’re so here for it

    Netflix has confirmed that 10 episodes of Chris Lilley‘s brand new show, Lunatics, is coming out in mid April. The show, which looks like it follows Chris’s usual format of a comedy mockumentary following several different characters over a set period is due to stream from the 19th April on Netflix.

    Netflix tells us, “The documentary examines the lives of six extraordinary individuals and explores the idea that people are not what they seem at first. Through documentary interviews, self recorded and fly on the wall footage the six intriguing subjects are observed over a period of months. Their stories unfold with hilarious results. As eccentric and odd as they all are, they are scarily recognisable types and they teach us that it’s ok to just be you”.

    Check out the trailer here.

     

  • Where can I see Tales Of The City and how many episodes are there?

    Where can I see Tales Of The City and how many episodes are there?

    Armistead Maupin’s Tales Of The City is coming to the small screen, here’s where you can see it and how many episodes there are.

    Armistead Maupin‘s Tales Of The City is coming back to life thanks to Netflix, who are giving us a 10 episode series launching on the 7th June 2019.

    The show’s original run was made into a miniseries for Channel 4 and was first broadcast in 1993. The very first mini-series had just six episodes, so the brand new production by Netflix actually adds 4 new episodes to the show.

    The show stars Laura Linney, Ellen Page, Olympia Dukakis, Paul Gross, Murray Bartlett, Charlie Barnett, Garcia and May Hong.

    Are any of the original cast in the 2019 Netflix reboot?

    Yes, in fact the 2019 Netflix reboot of Tales Of The City see Laura Linney and Olympia Dukakis return to reprise their roles as Mary Ann Singleton and Anna Madrigal, respectively.

    When is Tales Of The City coming to Netflix?

    So what is Tales Of The City all about?

    Inspired by the books of Armistead Maupin, Netflix Limited Series Armistead Maupin’s Tales of the City begins a new chapter in the beloved story. Mary Ann (Laura Linney) returns to present-day San Francisco and is reunited with her daughter Shawna (Ellen Page) and ex-husband Brian (Paul Gross), twenty years after leaving them behind to pursue her career. Fleeing the midlife crisis that her picture-perfect Connecticut life created, Mary Ann is quickly drawn back into the orbit of Anna Madrigal (Olympia Dukakis), her chosen family and a new generation of LGBT+ young residents living at 28 Barbary Lane.

    Where can I watch Tales Of The City?

    Tales Of The City will be streaming on Netflix from the 7th of June. It is believed that all episodes will be available to stream immediately on the service.